Netflix‘s Canadian launch has been a bit embarrassing for the rental and video streaming movie company so far: first, it was revealed that they had hired actors to pretend to be excited bystanders at the recent launch event and then it was reported that NetFlix CEO Reed Hastings said at the same event that Americans were “self-absorbed.”

Now in a post on the Netflix blog, Hastings is apologizing for the latter remark, which is nice and all, but it was pretty clearly a lame and self-deprecating joke aimed at giving Canadians a superior chuckle or two. More interesting, though, is that Hastings has revealed in the text of his apology that a new subscription plan will soon be available to American subscribers for streaming video only.

The pricing Netflix is offering in Canada, $7.99 per month, does not include any DVD-by-mail option, and that is why it is cheaper than our $8.99 USA plan which has both DVD-by-mail and streaming in one plan. We are looking at adding a streaming-only option for the USA over the coming months. My apologies to anyone offended by my self-absorbed comment.

That’s great news for Americans looking to save a buck or two a month, and an indication of things to come: in the next few years, we can all probably expect Netflix to ditch DVD-by-mail completely. Streaming’s the future, and sooner rather than later, DVDs will merely be a vestigial appendage to Netflix’s empire.

Reader Comments

bytornjc

as to the Americians comment, ok maybe not well placed but we (Canadians and Americians) are ALWAYS poking at each other like that, but there is no hateridge or real anomosoty at all, it’s all good natured and when the chips fall both of our countries fall over themselves to watch each other’s back (think 9/11 and Canada taking in all international flights from the States and diverting them to Canadian airports as just one example)

The comment was for fun, and something normally both countries would just laugh at

bytornjc

Ok, love the auto correction there “hateridge”?? what is that? LOL

hodar

The only part that ‘bothers’ me on the streaming option, is that many of the movies I want to see are not available unless I order the DVD.

And this is not only ‘new releases'; but older TV shows as well. Consider, I can stream ‘Dexter’ Seasons 1 and 2, but Seasons 3 and 4 must be ordered via DVD.

Friend of mine got addicted to “Sparticus:Blood and Sand”, it used to be a streaming option – but due to popularity, Netflix opted to make it DVD only, again.

Now, if the entire catelog is streaming; then we are on to something. However, the only major caveat I have is that when I stream a movie – I cannot rip it to my iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Zune, iPod, ect.

bytornjc

“However, the only major caveat I have is that when I stream a movie – I cannot rip it to my iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Zune, iPod, ect.”

Hodar, don’t tell me a tec god such as yourself hasn’t already figured a way around that. I think the “I” you used in that statement meant more “the general public can’t” not you specifically :)

http://stevenpmcvey.blogspot.com spm

this was expected. I don’t mind getting the physical disc, but if they make everything available through a media player (xbox 360, laptop, desktop and soon to be phone for me) then i’m all for it.